Rolfes says Mbamba will be shopped for loan, Bravo doesn't expect to return to Bayer

After making a total of six first team appearances across all competitions for Leverkusen this season, Belgian U21 international Noah Mbamba will probably be headed elsewhere next season. The former Club Brugge defensive midfielder recorded two assists in his debut season with the German league champions, yet still needs more playing time in order to continue his development.

This was directly revealed by B04 sporting director Simon Rolfes in an article published by Kicker Magazine Leverkusen correspondent Stephan van Nocks. Rolfes is quoted as saying that: "With Noah, the direction is clear that we have to loan him out. He needs more playing time". The 19-year-old registered his first scorer point in the match-day three romp of Darmstadt.

The recent signing of Spanish midfielder Aleix Garcia, one assumes, will leave both Mbamba and 20-year-old Colombian midfielder Gustavo Puerta as loan candidates. the latter managed ten appearances across all competitions this year; a total not necessarily befitting of a young talent with an estimated €3 million market worth. 

With regard to a player due back from loan, there hasn't been much news in the German press regarding the future of 19-year-old striker Iker Bravo. Amid disciplinary issues, the teenager was sent back to his native Spain on loan to the Real Madrid reserves. The loan spell was eventually extended by an additional year.

Bravo is quoted by two Spanish news sources - "Diario AS" and "Marca" - as saying that believes his return to Leverkusen to be doubtful. The center forward purports to know that a decision about him has been made. Bravo has only scored twice in the league for the Real Madrid U19s during his extended loan stint. 

"I'm just looking for a project at which I can play football," Bravo is quoted as saying, "I don't think my future lies at Leverkusen because I've been away for two years. I get along well with everyone, but Xabi has his own ideas."